The rabbits sit at the edge of the bank unable to decide whether to go further
upstream or to cross where they are. Some want to stay where they are
and rest awhile. Bigwig is about to make a sarcastic comment when Hazel
tells him to swim across and climb the big hill to see how far the wood
stretches. Bigwig returns quickly to say they must cross right away as
a big dog is loose in the woods. There is a problem, however, with getting
Fiver and Pipkin across as both of them are too exhausted to be able to
swim the distance. Blackberry finds a flat board which is stuck in the
mud just a little way upstream. He suggests that they use it to carry
Fiver and Pipkin across the water. None of the rabbits understand him
at first, but when he manages to wedge the board loose, Bigwig gets the
idea and pushes the board to the other bank. Most of the rabbits do not
quite understand what has happened, but Blackberry suggests that they
ought to remember the idea in case they need to use it another time.
We see a new side to Blackberry here as he comes through as the intellect
of the group, one capable of generating new ideas and figuring out how
to carry them out. Bigwig also catches on quickly. Hazel's initial request
that Bigwig swim ahead to view the land was intended to give him something
to do to keep him from causing an argument, but it ultimately saved their
lives. His strength in pushing the board across the water also saves Pipkin
and Fiver, so Bigwig is beginning to feel indispensable which will help
him to be a part of the group rather than just going along because he
has no choice. Fiver also understands what happened on the water even
though he is quite sure that Pipkin does not.
The rabbits spend the day sleeping uneasily in a hedgerow. Hazel feels uncomfortable
about their exposure and explores a nearby hill where he finds a field
of fragrant plants that he is unfamiliar with. Bigwig and Silver seem
to be familiar with them however, so they wake all the rabbits and lead
them to the hill. When they get there, they are attacked by a crow. Hazel
and Bigwig work together to attack the crow and drive it off. Bigwig encourages
the attack, saying that the crows only attack helpless rabbits, but are
actually cowards. After the excitement, the rabbits sleep safely among
the bean plants.
The relationship between Hazel and Bigwig continues to develop. In this adventure
the two are working together rather than Hazel sending Bigwig off to prevent
him from starting an argument. Bigwig is accepting Hazel's leadership
even as Hazel turns to him for his Owsla experience, skills and advice.
The rabbits come to a highway, a manmade concept most of them have never seen before. Bigwig explains that they are for the hrududil (motor vehicles) to run on and that neither the road nor the hrududil are dangerous to rabbits. Blackberry, however, spots a mass of fur on the road and is skeptical. Big wig explains that they are only dangerous at night because of the lights which will paralyze an animal and prevent it from moving out of the way. Hazel decides to simply cross it and get away from it.
They arrive at Newton Common, a rather barren land for rabbits who need groundcover
for both food and protection. While resting under a bank, Hawkbit, Acorn,
and Speedwell approach Hazel. Hawkbit acts sneaky as if he is up to something
when he tells Hazel that the three of them think Fiver is wrong. They
don't believe Hazel knows where they are going and they want to go back.
Hazel is trying to reason with them when Bigwig comes along. He takes
charge of punishing the three mutants while Fiver takes Hazel to the top
of the bank. In the distance they can see a line of hills. Fiver says
that the hilltop is their destination.
Bigwig is fully committed to Hazel's quest now as he not only works with him but also enforces Hazel's leadership, preventing the rebellion of any rabbits who get impatient over the duration of their journey.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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